List Of The Popular Filipino Scary Mythical Creatures

If you ask a Filipino about the scariest mythical creatures that they know, you will never run out of options. They know a lot of Pinoy mythical creatures that are terrifying but intriguing at the same time. These creatures are carried from generations to generations. Grandparents often tell stories about these creatures to scare children, or to just simply give them knowledge about how these scary creatures came to be. Take a look at the most popular Pinoy scary mythical creatures:

The List Of Popular Pinoy Scary Creatures

1. Manananggal

Every Filipino knows what “manananggal” is. Basically, it is a scary mythical creature. Many believe it to have the features of a woman. When it’s time to eat, the creature will detach from its waist and it will grow wings, feeding on animals or people. Although there are no confirmed sightings of this creature, it continues to haunt the minds of children, even adults.

Manananggal

2. Tikbalang

Tikbalang is another scary creature that every Pinoy knows. It is half man, half horse. It resembles the head of a horse. In some regions, tikbalang is considered harmless in general. It is also said that they distract unwary travelers, leading to their disorientation of the time and place, which lead for them to get lost.

Tikbalang

3. White Lady

As the term implies, White Lady is a ghostly apparition of a girl in full white clothing. Legends have it that white ladies are the ghosts of those ladies that were killed during World War 2. They are seeking justice for what they have suffered from. One famous story of sightings of a white lady is that of the Balete Drive in Quezon City.

White Lady

4. Tiyanak

Tiyanak is a term for monstrous babies who victimized nannies or those who take care of them. Often disguised as cute, cuddly infants, the tiyanak are actually killers. It is said that there are babies crying deep in the woods. One person tried to locate the noise and he was surprised that it was a baby. As it turned out, it was a tiyanak. Tiyanak have big, sharp teeth and it devours its victims, never to be found again.

Tiyanak

5. Kapre

Kapre is a hairy giant smoking tobacco. Although stories suggesting that kapre is a gentle giant, there are accounts telling that it might wreak havoc to anyone who disturbs it. According to the grownups, if one place smells like fish sauce at night, then there is a chance that the place has a Kapre living on it.

Kapre

6. Duwende (Dwarves)

We all know dwarves, as they are popular all around the world. But the duwende in the Philippines are vicious tricksters. They are playful but they might pose threat to a human. They can inflict unexplained sickness or wound among humans if they feel threatened. The best way to ward off duwende is to say “tabi tabi po” whenever you are in an unfamiliar place.

Duwende (Dwarves)

7. Aswang

Aswang is a shapeshifting entity in the Philippines. It feeds on humans with its large, sharp teeth. It can also blend in among humans and even animals, as they it is shapeshifters. In some regions, people take aswang seriously. They organize a patrol to protect their community against these vile creatures.

Aswang

BONUS:

8. Mangkukulam

Essentially, these are humans. But they have a “black magic”. If you want someone to suffer for any reasons, mangkukulam will get the job done for you. All you have to do is to get a strand of hair of that person and give it to the mangkukulam. That person will suffer from diseases or body pain that even doctors could not explain.